One icebreaker for all exports: how Russia exports sanctioned gas from the Arctic

Russia continues to export liquefied natural gas from a US-sanctioned plant in the Arctic throughout the winter, using the only available icebreaker. About this reports Bloomberg.

On Monday, January 5, the Christophe De Margerie tanker docked at the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 export terminal. According to ship tracking systems, it is preparing to ship its third shipment of gas since December 20. It is currently the only known vessel in Russia's shadow LNG fleet capable of operating in icy waters year-round.

The Arc7 ice-class tanker Christophe De Margerie has delivered the last two batches of gas to the Saam floating storage facility in the Murmansk region. From there, conventional tankers can pick up the fuel and deliver it to China, which currently remains the only buyer of Russian sanctioned LNG.

This supply scheme is expected to operate at least until the summer, when melting ice will open up a shorter eastern sea route.

Continuing exports is important for Russia, which is struggling to boost gas sales amid tightening Western sanctions and the loss of Europe as a key market. Arctic LNG 2 was forced to significantly cut production last winter due to a shortage of vessels and overcrowded storage facilities.

With only one icebreaker tanker, the plant is operating at about 25% of its current capacity. Meanwhile, last month, Russia completed construction of its first domestic ice-class LNG tanker, the Alexei Kosygin, which is heading to the Arctic from the Far East.

• On January 14, 2025, it became known that European shipping companies, including Damen in France and Fayard in Denmark, Russian ice-class tankers Arc7 are being repaired, which carry liquefied natural gas, including the tanker Christophe de Margerie.